Sweden has recognized the occupied state of Palestine officially, according to its foreign ministry. The Scandinavian has become the first West-European EU state to recognize the territories. Israel has recalled its ambassador in Sweden.

The news follows an earlier hint by Prime Minister Stefan Lovfen
in his Social Democrat manifesto, during his inaugural address in
October, that this would happen. The idea was quickly met with
criticism from the United States and Israel.

"Our decision comes at a critical time because over the last
year we have seen how the peace talks have stalled, how decisions
over new settlements on occupied Palestinian land have
complicated a two-state solution and how violence has returned to
Gaza," Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom told reporters.

"By making our decision we want to bring a new dynamic to the
stalled peace process."

"Today's recognition is a contribution to a better future for
a region that has for too long been characterized by frozen
negotiations, destruction and frustration," she wrote
earlier on Thursday in the daily Dagens Nyheter.

"Some will state this decision comes too soon. I am afraid,
rather, that it is too late."

The reaction from Israel followed soon after: “The decision
of the Swedish government to recognize a Palestinian state is a
deplorable decision which only strengthens extremist elements and
Palestinian rejectionizm,” the Jewish state's Foreign
Minister Avigdor Lieberman said.

Later in the day, Israel's Foreign Ministry said the country is
recalling its ambassador in Sweden for consultations in protest
of the move. Lieberman even considers permanently removing the
ambassador, Isaac Bachman, from his position, reported Haaretz.
This move would officially downgrade Israel's relations with
Sweden.

Wallstrom rejected accusations that Sweden was taking any sides
in the matter.

The troubled Muslim territories of the West
Bank and the Gaza Strip have been seeking autonomy from their
Jewish occupiers for decades now, with many people having
perished in one of the most prolonged and bloody confrontations
in history.

The Palestinians have in this time also lobbied for foreign
players to accept their claim to a sovereign state.

Those fighting for Palestine – currently Hamas – are labeled as
“terrorists” by Israel, so Wallstrom thinks a voice must be given
to what she sees as the more moderate part of the population.

The politician believes this will place them on a more equal
footing with Israel in peace talks that historically often
flounder.

"EU members confirmed in 2009 their readiness to recognize
the state of Palestine when it was appropriate," Wallstrom
said.

"We are now ready to take the lead. We hope this can show the
way for others."

She added that the fact that the Palestinians don't have full
control of their land or have fixed borders should not be an
obstacle to international recognition.

A vote at the UN General Assembly in 2012 secured a de facto
Palestinian statehood, although a ‘yes’ vote from most EU members
is still pending. While Sweden is the first EU member in Western
Europe to have recognized the state, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta,
Romania, Poland and the Czech Republic have already done so.

Iceland - the only non-EU member in the pack, has also recognized
the Palestinian state.